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Presence of diclofenac, estradiol, and ethinylestradiol in Manzanares River (Spain) and their toxicity to zebrafish embryo development

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Abstract

Diclofenac (DCF), 17-β-estradiol (E2), and 17-α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) are emerging pollutants included in the first watch list agreed by European countries and set in the EU Water Directive. The objective of the present study was the analytical monitoring of DCF, E2, and EE2 in surface water and sediment of the Manzanares River in a stretch that crosses the city of Madrid, Spain, and to assess whether such environmental levels could affect the development of aquatic vertebrates through a zebrafish embryo-larval assay. Samples taken during two campaigns in the spring of 2015 were analyzed for DCF, E2, and EE2 by LC-MS or GC-MS. The levels of E2 and EE2 measured in surface water and sediments of the Manzanares were within the ranges reported in other Spanish and European studies; however, DCF levels were higher in the present study. The zebrafish embryos exposed to the Manzanares River water (0–144h) showed lethal effects and sublethal effects (developmental delay, bradycardia, and reduced locomotion). Nevertheless, these effects were not primarily associated with the levels of DCF, E2, and EE2 present in the Manzanares River, because representative mixtures of the field study prepared in the laboratory did not exhibit such toxicity to the zebrafish embryos.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledged Dr. Eugenio Rico of the Faculty of Biology at the Autonomous University of Madrid for his support and participation in sample planning and during the sampling.

Funding

The present study was carried out as part of the research project “Advanced Technologies in Health Monitoring” (S2013/ABI-2747) funded by the Dirección General de Universidades e Investigación de la Consejería de Educación de la Comunidad de Madrid.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Area of Environmental Toxicology, National Centre for Environmental Health, Institute of Health Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain

    Jesús Pablo García-Cambero

  2. Unity of Antibacterial Resistance, Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency, Madrid, Spain

    Cristina Corpa, Paloma Méndez, Pilar Sierra & Sonia Aguayo

  3. Quality Assurance Programme, National Centre for Environmental Health, Institute of Health Carlos III, Majadahonda, Spain

    Miguel Angel Lucena

  4. Department of Atmospheric Pollution, National Environment Health Center, Carlos III Health Institute, 28220, Madrid, Spain

    David Galán-Madruga

  5. Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera de Majadahonda a Pozuelo, km 2, 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain

    David Galán-Madruga

Authors
  1. Jesús Pablo García-Cambero
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  2. Cristina Corpa
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  3. Miguel Angel Lucena
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  4. Paloma Méndez
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  5. Pilar Sierra
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  6. David Galán-Madruga
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  7. Sonia Aguayo
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Contributions

Jesús Pablo García-Cambero performed the toxicological experiments with the zebrafish embryos and, in collaboration with Sonia Aguayo Balsas, wrote the manuscript. Sonia Mª Aguayo Balsas designed the sampling plan and developed the analytical method and, with the help of Pilar Sierra Martín, Paloma Méndez, and Cristina Corpa Santos, conducted the sampling and analytical experiments. Statistical analyses of the analytical data were performed by Miguel Angel Lucena, who also collaborated in the validity of the analytical procedure. David Galán Madruga collaborated in the discussion of the analytical results.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Galán-Madruga.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Highlights

• Diclofenac, E2, and EE2 were monitored in sediments and water of the Manzanares River.

• High and sustained levels of DCF were detected in the Manzanares River.

• Estrogens were mostly detected in sediments but not in surface water.

• Manzanares River while crossing the city was toxic to aquatic developing vertebrates.

• River mixture of DCF, E2, and EE2 resulted not toxic to the zebrafish embryo development.

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García-Cambero, J.P., Corpa, C., Lucena, M.A. et al. Presence of diclofenac, estradiol, and ethinylestradiol in Manzanares River (Spain) and their toxicity to zebrafish embryo development. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 49921–49935 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14167-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14167-z

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